Sad demise of sport on BBC television

[Erudite geezer]

Whilst the BBC has a fairly comprehensive and competent sports website platform, it is quite startling the amounts of live sports TV coverage it has lost over the years:

Cricket - as a child of the 80s, it was great watching live England test matches and ODIs, but also live one day cup matches such as the Natwest Trophy and Benson and Hedges Cup; Richie Benaud was a personal favourite.

Golf - live golf from various tournaments, with the silky voice of Peter Allis.

F1 - Murray Walker and ; essential weekend viewing, even in a Ferrari-Schumacher dominated era.

Grandstand - still can't believe it's gone. I was and still am in love with Des Lynam's moustache.

At least we still have match of the day and Wimbledon. And world championship snooker.

Your memories of great sport/ sporting moments on the BBC, please.

[Downward]

What happened with the thing that they would still show major events ?

And yes it's a shame a lot of people won't see a test cricket match or an FA cup final live

[john2443]

In the 60s Grandstand used to have things like motocross and 4x4 off road races, can't remember what those are called. Safaris?

I remember Land Rovers and Alvis Stalwarts - must have been army entries?

[Challo]

It's down to money. Some events have to stay on free to broadcast channels, but others like cricket are up to the highest bidder. I'm sure the BBC and ITV bid, but they have to spend their money elsewhere.

[BlackLabel]

Downward said:

What happened with the thing that they would still show major events ?

And yes it's a shame a lot of people won't see a test cricket match or an FA cup final live

By law the only events which must be shown free-to-air are the ones below:

Category A - must be shown live on terrestrial said:

Olympic games

Football world cup

Football European Championship

FA Cup final

Scottish FA Cup final (in Scotland)

Grand National

The Derby

Wimbledon finals

Rugby League Challenge Cup final

Rugby Union World Cup final